Daniel Negreanu Explains How You Become a Poker Pro Today

Every poker player wishes they could be transported back to 2003, when the game was booming and the average player was 300% worse than today. Unfortunately, those days are gone, so how do you grind up to being a professional in this poker climate?

With over $30 million in poker tournament winnings and counting, Daniel Negreanu is a pretty reliable source in this department. And he recently shared his thoughts on becoming a professional player.

First off, Negreanu says that every poker pro is a small business owner who needs to create a vision/mission statement. As he explains, the vision statement is a cornerstone and you “will be coming back to this statement often. It is the statement that will guide you during your career.”

Next, Kid Poker explains that you need to understand how much each game is worth and if it’ll meet your standard of living. Negreanu works through the math of what you’d need to do to be successful at cash limits of $2/$5, for example.

It isn’t a pretty picture for the average player, but it is possible. Here’s one excerpt from Negreanu that perfectly explains his point:

“This is all painting a dark picture by design. It is the reality that most of you who are hoping to become professional poker players face. One that can’t be ignored. Is it possible that you have the work ethic, the modest monthly nut, the skill set, the emotional stability, the drive, the will, the bankroll, etc. Sure, but don’t be fooled.

There are maybe 2%-5% of people that can make this lifestyle work. Less than 5% of ball players in the minor leagues will ever make the big leagues. Even less high school football players putting on weight in the hopes of an NFL career will make it.

There are many careers where the odds are heavily stacked against you. There are heroes, those special people who have “it” and find a way to make it, but most will fail. This holds true in poker as well.”

Be sure to read Negreanu’s entire post here, which further breaks down the reality of what’s required for the average poker pro to succeed.